There is a relaxed Mediterranean feel to the area, which is set against the backdrop of the magnificent Swiss Alps.

It’s an important centre for music too, with plenty of culture and history.

But it’s the jaw-dropping lake, with water so clear and pure that you can even drink from it, that draws in visitors and keeps them coming back.

The lake

The picturesque Chapel Bridge (Picture: Ann Lee)

Framed by mountains that still have a dusting of snow, even in the summer, and lush hilltops, Lake Lucerne has heart-stopping good looks that offer a cosmopolitan Swiss experience with a magnificent Alpine backdrop.

Locals make the most of the huge lake with sailboats, yachts, canoes and even dinghies dotting its crystal-clear teal waters.

Take a leisurely walk and park yourself on a bench to take in the best sight – sunset over the mountains. Pure bliss.

Pretend you’re in The Sound of Music (Picture: Ann Lee)

On our visit, we spotted a man plunge in with a sleeping bag and let the current take him away downstream.

That’s one of the more unusual ways of getting to work we’ve ever seen but he’s not alone.

The steamboats

Ahoy! (Picture: Ann Lee)

There is only one way to travel in the region – by steamboat.

You can buy a Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited journeys to any of the neighbouring islands.

Weggis, a small village famous for its memorial to The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn author Mark Twain, is an hour away.

A round trip of all the islands nearby will take you around four hours without getting off, or alternatively you can do a speed cruise in an hour.

The mountains

View over Weggis to Mount Pilatus in the background Picture: Getty)

A trip to Lucerne isn’t complete without visiting one of the nearby mountains.

Mount Pilatus is known as the city’s mountain, as it’s the closest and by far the most popular with tourists.

You can take the Golden Round Trip, a fun half-day or whole-day excursion that includes a boat trip on Lake Lucerne and ride up the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to the peak.

Take the funicular from Vitznau to Rigi Klum right at the top for the most spectacular vista of the lakes below.

Be sure to get a seat on the left on the way up for the best views.

The hiking

A view of Mount Pilatus and Lucerne from the summit of Mount Rigi (Picture: Getty)

Strap on those hiking boots. Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi offer a variety of walks for different abilities.

More advanced daredevil types can clamour up to the top of Pilatus while Rigi has easier routes for beginners or lazier walkers.

Along the way, you’ll be greeted by the chimes of cowbells and the colourful sight of wildflowers.

If you get thirsty, you can refill your bottle at any of the springs – the water is completely safe to drink.

The chocolate

So much delicious chocolate (Picture: Ann Lee)

As the home of the Toblerone and Lindt, Switzerland prides itself on creating some of the world’s best chocolate.

Lucerne has specialist chocolatiers if you fancy trying something more bespoke.

Head to Max Chocolatier for unique flavours like elderflower and Campari orange. Their selection of ice creams are just mouth-watering. Divine.

The monuments

Visit the Lion monument (Picture: Ann Lee)

Tucked down an unassuming side street, the Lion monument is one of the city of Lucerne’s most famous historical monuments.

The carving, set in a stone wall, was made to commemorate the deaths of the Swiss Guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris.

The swimming

Chill out at Seebad (Picture: Google)

On a steamy summer day, the lake looks so inviting that you just want to rip off all your clothes and dive in – and you can.

Seebad is a lake side bar where you can sip on a cocktail with friends before taking a leisurely dip.

The music

Lucerne hosts the Blue Balls festival (Picture: Rex)

Lucerne hosts a series of music festivals throughout the year.

Fans of Primavera and Latitude should head to Blue Balls festival, while classical music fans should check out Lucerne Festival.

The food

Mmm, yummy carbs (Picture: Ann Lee)

Swiss cuisine is heavy on the carbs and typical offerings involve meat and either pasta or potato as a side dish.

Fondue is the one dish everyone will have heard of but the classic comfort food, which involves dipping bread into a hot bowl of cheese, is usually reserved for winter.

How to get there

Flights from London to Zurich take around 1 hour and 40 minutes. I flew with Swiss, with fares starting from £67 one-way.

The airline will also transport a set of ski or snowboard equipment and boots free of charge, in addition to your standard free baggage allowance, if you’re heading over for some winter fun.

From Zurich, you can take a train direct to Lucerne, which takes 45 minutes. The most economical way to travel around Switzerland is with a Swiss Travel Pass. For more information visit www.myswitzerland.com/rail.